Richard Hunnewell

(October 25, 1731 – November 24, 1805) 

Richard Hunnewell, a mason and bricklayer operating his own business, was mentioned as having participated in the destruction of the tea along with his two sons.

Richard “Hunniwell” had previously served as constable for the town of Boston in 1756. Later in his civic career, he was appointed to the Committee of Inspection in 1779, and he was fireward from 1777 through 1786.  

Records show that Richard Hunnewell was active in acquiring property around his Essex Street home, which he had purchased on March 20, 1767. In their capacity as masons/bricklayers, Richard Hunnewell and his son Jonathan had built two tombs in the Stone Chapel (King’s Chapel) Burying Ground in Boston in 1790. One was deeded to Anne Crafts, the other to William Moore.  

Richard Hunnewell’s service during the Revolutionary War is notable for his assumption of command of Captain William Ethridge’s company of masons under fellow Boston Tea Party participant Colonel Thomas Chase when Etheridge died of smallpox in June 1776. Richard’s son, Jonathan, had enlisted under Ethridge the previous year. Upon Richard taking over command of the company, for two years, father and son built barracks, ammunition magazines, and other military structures in Roxbury and Dorchester, Massachusetts. 

Richard Hunnewell died in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 24, 1805.